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Rock and Ice photo camp 2013 - Jon Cardwell

I love the climbing community. This group is not always visible, especially with today's new wave of indoor climbing gyms, filling up with eager beginners. Its sometimes lost, but there's no doubt of it's existence. Last week I spent five days in Redstone with an awesome group of climbers and photographers both pro and amateur. These camps are instructional workshops developed to teach, instruct and critique eager photographers how to shoot rock climbing for the publishers.

I've been to a Rock and Ice photo camp once, a couple years ago in Rifle, Colorado and while it was a great time, this last trip was exceptionally classic. The first day was a meet and greet at the Red Stone Lodge, where we were served delicious food. Instructors from the Rock and Ice staff gave presentations on photography solutions and what to expect for the following days in the field. The field...it was stacked, a mountain side covered in redish brown, conglomerate walls...In the beginning, it was obvious, we were the climbers, Carlo Traversi, Sonnie Trotter, Mayan Gobat, Delaney Miller, Ben Rueck, Ian Dory, young Nikken and myself, and the photographers were, photographers...fresh from different locations across the states. A few ascending, lighting, and safety lessons later, we were off, climbing and being captured.

The first day was hot, and sunny. We arrived early around 9am, the wall fully engulfed in then 100 degree sun. Everyone was eager. We moved through a series of aesthetic lines until one took my eye. It was a partly shaded arete that hung high over the valley. We were told it was an old DR 5.13+ route from the early 90's. DR, aka. Duane Raleigh is a legend, and maybe I have been oblivious this whole time, but this publisher of Rock and Ice, and numerous other publications, had unbelievable stories all week - most of which were spoken from others. Besides that, his 20 year old test pieces were a hit the entire time. Ian, Sonnie and I approached the arete and began questing. The line was incredible, opening with 30 feet of technical face climbing directly into a 45 foot multi-tiered roof arete system. After a couple tries, the crew made the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ascents of the line and the photographers seemed pleased.

The critiques may be my favorite part of the photo camps. More than just slideshows, they're social gatherings in the evening over good food where people come together and put themselves out there so that everyone can learn. I was impressed by the quality of photos, not only from the first day but how they improved day by day. Further so, the crew, climbers and photographers became more vocal as the days rolled on. Everyone was more tired but the motivation rang out; people tried harder and became synchronized. Our systems were set, and the once divided group worked together, organizing shots, lights, and angles - easy and difficult. It's no doubt in my mind that everyone will be impressed with the images. Hard work always pays off, and maybe, that was the most key lessoned taught throughout these days. The climbers, perpetually psyched whether its Carlo's 6am attempts on a project or others' eagerness to climb whenever/wherever needed throughout the day; and the photographers, always willing to follow that wave. That's a classic reflection of our climbing community alive and well; when like-minded people come together and work hard, no matter their initial division, the product is great.

Until next year....

Huge thanks to Five Ten, Adidas Outdoor, the photographers, fellow climbers and of course Rock and Ice for making this event possible!